Some of the tricks I know about capo bars or the things I try when a piano needs help in the cash register. Any of these things may work or may not work and if they work they may be short term or last longer than you expect. None of these things would work on new Baldwins that use the so called "termination pieces". However, old Baldwins respond pretty well. ================================================================= Not necessarily in this order. Push the string back and forth on the capo bar, i.e. move the string back and forth, in and out of the string cuts. I use a brass stick but a dull screw driver will work too. Loosen one end of the string about a half to three quarters of a turn and pull up the slack on the other side. This puts a new string surface against the capo bar. This also works on aggraffes. Loosen the strings. (I do this one unison at a time.) Rub the capo bar back and forth with a dull screw driver in and out of the string cuts. Rub the capo bar with 220 grit sand paper. Rub the strings with sand paper where they touch the capo bar. Reshape hammer, level strings, travel hammer, fit hammer to string. Try moving the action in and out and test for the best sound. Make a note of the difference and then re-hang that one hammer accordingly. I sometimes have one or two hammers in the capo area that are hung a 1/16" closer to the hammer flange than the rest of the hammers. Check front to back angle of hammer. As old hammers are re- shaped they will over strike. Re-hang as needed. If you decide to put a mute in the strings try this method. I use a piece of buckskin about 1/8th " wide or less and usually not longer that 1/4 inch. Stick this piece of leather between the 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 strings just in front of the capo bar and behind the front aliquot. As you play the note, move the leather forward and backward and leave it where it sounds best. There are others but this is all I could think of at the moment. ================================================================ Phil Sloffer Indiana University School of Music psloffer@ucs.indiana.edu Bloomington Indiana ================================================================
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